Christian Salchner, the host of the Hotel Hohe Burg in Trins, is a mountain freak. He spends any free minute he can in the mountains, mostly in the Gschnitz Valley, where he has home advantage.

Time is often tight. As he takes care of the well-being of his guests himself, Christian usually has to be back in his kitchen by late afternoon, at the latest. He welcomes any way of saving time, and, as a result, the idea of acquiring an electric bike came to him. It turned out to be an investment that made him a confident biker and hiker.

It’s a beautiful bike tour to the Padasterjochhaus

His favourite tour leads by way of the mountain bike trail no. 577 to Padasterjoch near Trins. At this point, the soft sports shoes have to be exchanged for mountain boots, as well as taking the time for a short chat with Agi and Paul, the mountain-lodge keepers, with the promise to stop off for a bite to eat on the return from the peak. The route then continues on foot, sometimes onto the ever-closer Padasterkogel (peak at 2,301 m), or, if time is not an issue, the Hammerspitze (2,634 m) or the Kirkdach (2,840 m), followed by a well-earned break for a snack back at the lodge. The way down, or rather the descent is nothing but sheer pleasure – with the dreamlike landscape always in view and the feel of the refreshing air stream in the nose.

It’s only a short hike from the hut to the peak “Padasterkogel”On his way home from the Padasterjochhaus

And what appeals to the host, he also likes to offer his guests. For that reason, Christian and his colleague Sandra have decided to launch an electric bike rental service from the adjacent Hotel Zita, starting in summer 2017. The bikes are available to hotel guests, as well as all other visitors to the Wipptal region. Rental charge: € 25.00 per day inclusive of refreshment voucher at a lodge in the Gschnitz Valley.